About Us

The Disabled Children’s Partnership is a major coalition of more than 70 organisationscampaigning for improved health and social care for disabled children, young people and their families.

We believe that disabled children, young people and their families should have access to the services they are entitled to, when they need them.

We are not asking for disabled children to be singled out or treated differently. We are asking for fairness.

But in England today, this simply isn’t happening. Disabled children face four big challenges.

There are not enough services

Many of those that exist are not good enough

Families cannot access them easily

Services do not always work together and communicate well with each other

This leads to an unacceptable contrast between the quality of life and the opportunities available to disabled children and their families, compared to those without disabilities.

Simple tasks such as visiting a park, going to school or doing the weekly shop are often extremely challenging and in some cases impossible.

But this does not need to be the case.

69% of families...

...with disabled children never receive any support

10% of parents...

...of a disabled child believe that social care services in their area are fit for purpose

90% of parents...

...say they have to fight to get the services their disabled child needs

“The gap in health and social care services in England today means that families face enormous difficulties in accessing even the most basic support. There simply isn’t awareness of the challenges faced by disabled children, young people and their families.”

Amanda Batten, Chair of the Disabled Children’s Partnership

The Disabled Children’s Partnership exists to: address the lack of health and social care services; improve the quality of services available; make sure families can access those services; and ensure professionals communicate with each other and work together.

But, we can’t achieve this when nearly half of the British public (43%) don’t know anyone who is disabled so are simply unaware of the challenges they face.

The truth is we need public support, understanding and empathy to affect change and make a lasting difference to the way disabled children are treated in society.

In order to achieve the change we need, we will bring the realities of the lives of disabled children, young people and their families closer to people across England.

Help us create a country where disabled children and young people have the right support and access to the same opportunities that most of us take for granted.

If you need advice on any aspect of caring for disabled children please call the Contact freephone helpline on 0808 808 3555 or visit: www.contact.org.uk

The campaign is led by

The campaign is supported by

The Disabled Children’s Partnership (DCP) is a growing coalition of more than 70 charities who have joined forces, working closely in partnership with parents, to campaign for improved health and social care for disabled children, young people and their families.

This website is managed by the Disabled Children’s Partnership, a consortium campaign of organisations administered by Royal Mencap Society (registered company in England and Wales no. 00550457; registered charity numbers are 222377 in England and Wales, and SC041079 in Scotland). Royal Mencap Society is registered as a data controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office under the Data Protection Act 1998 and our registration number is Z5709720.